Part one
“Heads up bro, we’re nearly there.” Ryhans voice penetrated through the back of the cabin.
“Be right there," shouted Lan, throwing on a shirt and walking into the cockpit section of his mates Discoverer.
Lan headed for the co-pilot seat, navigating his way past all the empty food pots, half eaten snacks and bits of mechanical junk that lay strewn through out the cockpit along with things which he was loathe to identify.
“Do you ever clean anything? I swear there’s a half eaten cahoona burger back there that was winking at me!” Lan commented as he sat in the co-pilot’s seat.
“May be ya should have asked it out for a drink, it would have been a step up from the last thing ya dated,” came the reply as ryhan turned around to flash a grin. “As I recall there was some ambiguity as to the actual sex of the ‘girl’.
Lan put on a tragic face, “your right ryhan, I should never of tried it on with your sister. I should have listened to the workers on silicon mine alpha.”
Ryhan’s laugh rang out causing Lan to grin in response, “ya wanna dock this thing or stand around impinging my sisters ‘pristine’ reputation?”
Lan glanced through the cockpit windows an out into the velvet blackness of space. He could see the Argon home world; the birthplace of humanity unless you were a Goner and only the ancients knew what universe they were on. The swirl of the white clouds over the blue green oceans lent it a majestic air, no matter how many times Lan had seen the sight it never failed to move him. He could see the rotating shape of the trading station just off to the right and looming closer, its metallic structure reflecting the rays of the sun so it seemed to glow with its own light.
“Dock her?” Lan asked with a slight frown, “isn’t the autopilot doing it?”
Ryhan just looked at him. “Alright, I’ll take her in” sighed Lan knowing better then to argue. “That’s my boy!” replied Ryhan jovially slapping him on the back and making his way to the co-pilot seat. “We’ll make a true pilot of you yet”.
Lan took the pilots seat and manoeuvred the discoverer to the right, bringing the trading station to the front of the ship.
“You are talking to the automated voice interactive system, please state your request” the mechanical voice of the trading station came over the comm. Lan asked for docking permission and was already rolling up to face the entrance to the docking bay as the reply came across. “Docking permission granted, please dock as soon as the green lights appear.”
Lan increased speed as he saw the stations heavy blast doors open and proceeded to enter the station. As he approached the internal docking bay doors the stations automated docking computer took over and the ship was moved into the visitors docking bay.
“Done and dusted” Lan said over his shoulder to Ryhan, “lets go get something to drink.”
“I’m with you there bro, and let’s see if we can’t find some accommodating pretty girls” replied Ryhan with a wink.
They stepped off the discoverer and into the multitude of people and aliens that thronged the docking bay. They took a moment to take in the scene and absorb the feel of the busy trading port before heading towards the ‘social area’ to get something to eat and possibly a drink or two.
“Well bro, lets get a bite to eat and ya can tell me about this Gonerish idea of yours to become an entrepreneur” Ryhan called out heading for there regular bar ‘Primes sanctuary’. “it’s not that mad Ry, there are hundreds of traders doing the same thing,” Lan argued “And I got to make a start somewhere, so I figure I’ll give it a try”.
They took a table by the corner of the bar and ordered two Cahoona meat steaks and a couple of ales. Chewing around a mouthful of steak Lan asked, “Thanks for the lift Ry, how long are you going to be here for?”
“Just for today as I have to be at a hearing with sector police in Home of Light” Ryhan sounded annoyed and had a disgusted look on his face. “I can’t believe the amount of fuss they are making over a minor incident of political protest, it’s not even like I did any damage.”
Lan smiled round his mouthful of steak, “as I understand it Ry, you evaded the sector governors escorts and closed on his ship, you carried out an inverted flyby matching speeds and coming so close as to set of the collision warning alarms on his ship. If that wasn’t enough, you then proceeded to ‘moon’ his Excellency and his staff.” Lan was laughing openly now.
Ryhan just shrugged, “he’s such a bare faced arse I thought it appropriate to hold up a mirror.” Any ways tell me about your amazing plan to become a billionaire and when ya learned to do miracles? The chance of making it big as an independent trader is about as likely as a Teladi refund."
"Well first of all I’m going to get a job as a pilot, there are always trading groups looking for pilots for their freighters. Once I get some credits stored I'll invest it and climb the ranks maybe even get myself some shares in one of the major trading concerns. " Lan tried to look certain, "I'll work on the details when I’m out doing the trade runs."
"If ya say so bro, it sounds like a looooong boring stretch is ahead of ya, any way I'll be around to liven it up for you no problem." Ryhan said grinning.
"Thanks, that's exactly what I need a couple of xenon destroyers to dodge" lan replied dryly.
When they finished their meals they headed for the more 'lively' bars towards the back of the station. Heading into one called the 'Queens Tenticles' they proceeded to partake in the age old custom of getting completely inebriated.
"Arghh..muwhh head," groaned Lan as he tried to move his head,
the stale acidic smell gave clues to the origin of the dampness he felt beneath him. His head felt like a dozen split had decided to hold a death match there, and he was positive something had crawled into his mouth and died.
Lan pushed himself up on hands and knees and waited for the wave of dizziness to pass. He hadn't made it to his bed and was lying on the floor, what he was lying in, he reflected was better left unexplored.
He crawled into the shower, stripping of his now aromatic clothes and slowly managed to clean himself off.
By the time he was dressed and ready for breakfast the cleaning bots were already removing the last traces of the night’s excessiveness.
The mild beeping noise alerted him to a message pending his attention; Lan activated the holo screen and Ryhan's face popped up.
"Hey buddy, I see your up and about, good night huh?" he grinned, "I had to leave early and ya looked so happy lying on the floor I didn't have the heart to wake ya."
"Thanks. I appreciate it so much," Lan replied sarcastically, "when am I going to see you next?"
"Not sure bro depends on the damn sector police, hopefully in a couple of days. If not then I'll send ya a message. Coming up to the jump gate, catch ya in a couple of days."
"See you Ry." Lan said as he ended the message.
"Now to get some breakfast and see to starting my trading career."
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Tchak'ta stepped out of his harrier to the hissing sound of the airlock and walked through the docking bay heading for the central entertainment area. His investigations lead him to the sector Profit share and specifically to the Bliss place located here.
The cloying smell of spaceweed permeated everywhere along with the acrid stench of unwashed bodies. His honed teladi instincts, automatically assessing and measuring the profit potential of the establishment. He could see from the run down look and patched up repairs that investment into the place was a minimum while the many casinos, bars, show stages and all forms of entertainment crammed into the limited space would maximise profit margins.
"The way it should be" he nodded to himself in approval.
Tchak’ta made his way through the throng of revellers heading for the station managers office located just beyond the commercial venues.
“Watch where you’re going lizard face” slurred a drunken Argon as he stumbled into Tchak’ta, “you steal an honest mans credits and then think you can push us around.”
The smell of strong whisky or space fuel as it’s more commonly known emanated off him, intermingled with other more unsavoury smells. From his clothes and the posturing Tchak’ta surmised he must be a mine worker either silicon or ore and had no doubt just blown his whole pay at the casinos.
“You’re all a bunch of cheating, stealing, money-grubbing scaly lizards! And I’m not...”
The few bystanders who had stopped to see the show did not hear the rest of the sentence as Tchak’ta stepped into the Argon and gave him a vicious backhand which snapped his head back and knocked him to the floor where he remained unmoving.
Turning around he carried on walking towards the station manager’s office in the same purposeful strides.
He knew everything there was to know about the manager of this station, as he did about nearly all Teladi of any means along with the prominent business owners of the other races. It was his job to know and to discern patterns if any from the chaotic trade transactions, both in the open and those carried out in more secret.
The managers office turned out to be a cordoned off portion of one of the more high market casinos. Tchak’ta could see the booth where the station manager was sitting and conducting business. There were two large Teladi dressed in mercenary clothing and sporting hand blasters on either side of the booth.
Tchak’ta walked up and took a seat opposite,
“Leave us” he hissed at the Argon sat there without looking at him.
Maglixt Cazixt’nt the 4th looked at the Teladi who had just sat opposite her.
“Who would you be to come to my station, sit at my booth uninvited and summarily dismiss my guest?” She hissed, her mannerisms adding the threat to the question.
The Argon sensing something in the atmosphere made his excuses and decided to leave.
Tchak’ta did not reply but just stared at Maglixt, he could see that two of her guards had moved forward with their blasters up.
“I will ask questions, you will answer” stated Tchak’ta
“I do not...” she began angrily as Tchak’ta drew out a small glowing blue pyramid stamped with a green claw holding a credit chip. The pyramid pulsed slowly turning from blue to red to green then back to blue.
The guards stopped moving when they saw the pyramid; they looked uncertain and slightly apprehensive.
Maglixt throat went dry as she recognised the ID of the Profits Protection Agency, swallowing slowly she signalled her guards back. There were few Teladi who did not fear a visit by the PPA as at some point each Teladi had procured profit without providing the board of directors their cut. It is this fact which makes the PPA feared along with the ruthless methods they employ when making an example.
Maglixt searched her brain for every thing she knew about this agency, anything that may give her a bargaining angle.
The PPA worked for the Teladi board of directors or so it was officially claimed. There have been persistent rumours that the PPA had their own agenda and worked towards their own ends, what that maybe remained in the realm of speculation. What was fact was that they had near absolute autonomy and their judgements were always backed by the board.
The members of PPA were chosen through some elaborate scheme the requisites of which remains unknown, they come from all walks of Teladi life with no discernable pattern. Unlike the military who forsake the gain of profit the PPA are measured by the credits they have acquired. Their only restriction is that they are not allowed to own businesses or factories, a strange restriction the reason for which is unknown.
They are said to be immutable to bribes and threats only resulted in the complete loss of profits and business ventures (a fate worse then death for a Teladi). There have been some VERY frightening rumours regarding the fate of those who cross them.
All this floated through her mind, leaving her with only one choice.
"I shall answer any questions that you may have, would you like some refreshment in the mean time?" she managed to croak out.
"No. Let us start" Tchak'ta replied softly. "You have been supplying the pirate clan Karrak's Vampires located in Atreus Clouds with spaceweed shipments."
"y..y..yes, I asure u it is all accounted for" stammered Maglixt, " I provide the required duty to the board, this is all documented".
Tchak'ta just stared at Maglixt, "what are not so well documented are the other items being shipped with the spaceweed."
He leaned forward slightly staring into the nervous eyes of the female Teladi, "you have been providing biological and physiological equipment along with research data on toxicology and biometric analysis to the vampires."
"Now I will ask you questions starting with your contacts and you will answer them, if I find you have been lying then very bad things are likely to happen, starting with unfortunate luck in your business ventures." He could see from her eyes that she would answer his questions.
Tchak'ta climbed back aboard his Harrier and asked permission to launch. Maglixt had been of little use in shedding light on his investigation, it was obvious she was but a tool used to deliver the restricted laboratory equipment and the classified data he was tracking. He had a sector to go to and two names to look up; maybe they will have more relevant information. He pulled up the universe map and set the ship to head for Argon prime. Harold and Henry, strange names for Teladi he thought to himself as he adjusted his heading.
......................................................................................................
Next bit is one post down.. (sorry about that).
X Squared: Birth of a Merchant Prince (1)
Moderators: TheElf, Moderators for English X Forum
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FourFingers
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X Squared: Birth of a Merchant Prince (1)
Last edited by FourFingers on Fri, 16. Apr 04, 00:42, edited 3 times in total.
Master of the mysterious Fourfingers.
lieutenant Dragon Rider. RED BROOD
lieutenant Dragon Rider. RED BROOD
wow, a great start 
keep em coming, very readable, nice characterisations
keep em coming, very readable, nice characterisations
"I find your lack of belief in the Three Dimensionality disturbing." Mercenary
"So getting this chick back is more than just getting a chick back. It's the concrete manifestation of an abstract policy goal. And we like concrete - right, Vic?"
Red wine...the only way to frag
"So getting this chick back is more than just getting a chick back. It's the concrete manifestation of an abstract policy goal. And we like concrete - right, Vic?"
Red wine...the only way to frag
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FourFingers
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- Joined: Fri, 26. Mar 04, 22:37
"Look kid I’m sorry, I was looking for someone with more experience and maybe some combat under their belt."
Lan cut the channel in frustration, he'd been receiving replies like that from every pilot position he applied for. "The bloody captain of the bloody Elite Frontier Scouts wouldn't stand a bloody look in for these jobs" he swore vehemently.
The stats they are looking for seems to indicate that for some unfathomable reason they expect the whole damn Xenon and Pirate fleets to attack their freighter, granted delexian wheat is very versatile but as far as he knew it couldn’t be turned into Hornet missiles.
Lan decided to head to the bar, see if he could calm down and think on what to do next. He'd spent the whole morning and afternoon at the console listening to rejection after rejection, the frustration and incredulity had built up steadily and was beginning to show.
As he sat nursing his beer and cursing all the paranoid freight companies he could remember, a large shadow fell across his table. Lan looked up at the (he assumed) smiling faces of two Teladi.
"Good day ssir" said the one on the right,
"we have a propisssition for you" said the other as they sat round his table.
"Im not interested, thank you" replied Lan right away.
The last thing he wanted was to get involved with a Teladi undertaking. There is an Argon saying, 'when a Teladi smiles, watch your back and count your credits'. There is a similar saying in Boron as well, come to think about it there's also one in Paranid and Split, possibly in Xenon too for all he knew. The Teladi reputation is well known.
"We are in need of pilotss to do short delivery" said the one on the right,
"You are a pilot, yesss??" said the one on the left.
"Yea, I'm a pilot" said Lan suspiciously "what kind of delivery??" he asked despite himself.
The Teladi on the right said "let usss introduce ourselvess, my name is Harold and my partner iss Henry, we represent many trading companiesss."
Lan looked at them with a raised eyebrow, "Harold and Henry?" he asked trying to keep the disbelief from his voice. "well.. Harold and Henry, my name is Lanowar Holden. What does this delivery entail?"
Lan found himself looking out of a discoverer cockpit onto the asteroid laden field of the sector Ore Belt. Cursing himself for a fool for the hundredth time Lan still couldn’t work out how he had been manoeuvred into taking this job.
He was to deliver the 'special goods' in his cargo hold to the Ore Belt, a ship would meet him at these designated coordinates, and he would eject the container and head back.
They had provided this well used discoverer and had even registered it in his name. That seemed like a good idea at the time, a sort of insurance in case they didn’t pay him, but now it just seemed like a signed confession. It’s his ship carrying Ancients know what illegal goods, nothing to trace back to the damn Teladi if he was caught by sector police.
Worst of all was that this ship did not come with any weapons and only 1MW shield. Granted it had been maxed to full speed and cargo hold. Not for the first time he wished Ryhan was here, his supernatural piloting skills would have made him feel more confident and the easy banter allaying his fears.
Lan check his HUD radar for any ships in his proximity, lots of the usual Argon Mecury freighters and some light fighters moving along the trade lanes heading for the jump gates. The occasional red blips came up signifying Pirate transports with their escorts of light fighters.
"Just great" Lan muttered to himself as he kept an eye on the pirate transports, he was located on the western edge of the asteroid field, away from the sector stations (no surprise there, damn the Teladi).
He had this sinking feeling that he had made a very big mistake.
.....................................................................................................
Part 2
Lan cut the channel in frustration, he'd been receiving replies like that from every pilot position he applied for. "The bloody captain of the bloody Elite Frontier Scouts wouldn't stand a bloody look in for these jobs" he swore vehemently.
The stats they are looking for seems to indicate that for some unfathomable reason they expect the whole damn Xenon and Pirate fleets to attack their freighter, granted delexian wheat is very versatile but as far as he knew it couldn’t be turned into Hornet missiles.
Lan decided to head to the bar, see if he could calm down and think on what to do next. He'd spent the whole morning and afternoon at the console listening to rejection after rejection, the frustration and incredulity had built up steadily and was beginning to show.
As he sat nursing his beer and cursing all the paranoid freight companies he could remember, a large shadow fell across his table. Lan looked up at the (he assumed) smiling faces of two Teladi.
"Good day ssir" said the one on the right,
"we have a propisssition for you" said the other as they sat round his table.
"Im not interested, thank you" replied Lan right away.
The last thing he wanted was to get involved with a Teladi undertaking. There is an Argon saying, 'when a Teladi smiles, watch your back and count your credits'. There is a similar saying in Boron as well, come to think about it there's also one in Paranid and Split, possibly in Xenon too for all he knew. The Teladi reputation is well known.
"We are in need of pilotss to do short delivery" said the one on the right,
"You are a pilot, yesss??" said the one on the left.
"Yea, I'm a pilot" said Lan suspiciously "what kind of delivery??" he asked despite himself.
The Teladi on the right said "let usss introduce ourselvess, my name is Harold and my partner iss Henry, we represent many trading companiesss."
Lan looked at them with a raised eyebrow, "Harold and Henry?" he asked trying to keep the disbelief from his voice. "well.. Harold and Henry, my name is Lanowar Holden. What does this delivery entail?"
Lan found himself looking out of a discoverer cockpit onto the asteroid laden field of the sector Ore Belt. Cursing himself for a fool for the hundredth time Lan still couldn’t work out how he had been manoeuvred into taking this job.
He was to deliver the 'special goods' in his cargo hold to the Ore Belt, a ship would meet him at these designated coordinates, and he would eject the container and head back.
They had provided this well used discoverer and had even registered it in his name. That seemed like a good idea at the time, a sort of insurance in case they didn’t pay him, but now it just seemed like a signed confession. It’s his ship carrying Ancients know what illegal goods, nothing to trace back to the damn Teladi if he was caught by sector police.
Worst of all was that this ship did not come with any weapons and only 1MW shield. Granted it had been maxed to full speed and cargo hold. Not for the first time he wished Ryhan was here, his supernatural piloting skills would have made him feel more confident and the easy banter allaying his fears.
Lan check his HUD radar for any ships in his proximity, lots of the usual Argon Mecury freighters and some light fighters moving along the trade lanes heading for the jump gates. The occasional red blips came up signifying Pirate transports with their escorts of light fighters.
"Just great" Lan muttered to himself as he kept an eye on the pirate transports, he was located on the western edge of the asteroid field, away from the sector stations (no surprise there, damn the Teladi).
He had this sinking feeling that he had made a very big mistake.
.....................................................................................................
Part 2
Last edited by FourFingers on Mon, 12. Apr 04, 21:40, edited 4 times in total.
Master of the mysterious Fourfingers.
lieutenant Dragon Rider. RED BROOD
lieutenant Dragon Rider. RED BROOD
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Golden_Gonads
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FourFingers
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Very readable, the characters come to life very quickly. I'll look forward to more of this, and finding out how much hot water Lan ends up in with these dodgy dealings in Ore Belt, and what Tchak’ta (sounds more like a split name to me, but then again Harold and Henry a far from typical Taladi names!) does when he tracks down his targets.
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FourFingers
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FourFingers
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Fri, 26. Mar 04, 22:37